Lewisham vs Petersham

In both, about half of households rent. In Lewisham, most homes are flats or apartments. In Petersham, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Petersham is closer to the city centre: 8 km, against 9.2 km.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Lewisham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 3)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Petersham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $520/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Petersham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Lewisham

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (28.3% vs 1.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Lewisham and Petersham drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Lewisham Petersham
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Lewisham Petersham
Walkability 99 / 99
Lewisham — Walkability: 99/100 Petersham — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 29 / 36
Lewisham — Safety: 29/100 Petersham — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lewisham — Low fire risk: 100/100 Petersham — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Petersham has more residents (8,200 vs 4,060); Lewisham rents higher ($520/wk vs $450/wk).

Lewisham Petersham
Population 4,060 8,200
+102% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +28.3% +1.0%
Median age 34 36
Median household income $125,060/yr
+8% vs other
 $115,284/yr
Median weekly rent $520/wk
+13% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lewisham Petersham
0-4 5.2% / 4.1%
Lewisham — 0-4: 5.2% Petersham — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 8.3% / 8.5%
Lewisham — 5-14: 8.3% Petersham — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 3.2% / 4.5%
Lewisham — 15-19: 3.2% Petersham — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 7.2% / 7.4%
Lewisham — 20-24: 7.2% Petersham — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 27.0% / 22.2%
Lewisham — 25-34: 27.0% Petersham — 25-34: 22.2%
35-44 17.8% / 16.7%
Lewisham — 35-44: 17.8% Petersham — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 11.1% / 14.8%
Lewisham — 45-54: 11.1% Petersham — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 8.6% / 10.1%
Lewisham — 55-64: 8.6% Petersham — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 6.2% / 6.8%
Lewisham — 65-74: 6.2% Petersham — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 3.3% / 3.5%
Lewisham — 75-84: 3.3% Petersham — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 2.3% / 1.3%
Lewisham — 85+: 2.3% Petersham — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lewisham 42.8% lone person
Lewisham — Lone Person: 42.8% Lewisham — Couple Families: 31.5% Lewisham — Group Household: 13.3% Lewisham — One Parent Families: 11.0% Lewisham — Other Families: 1.5%
Petersham 46.7% lone person
Petersham — Lone Person: 46.7% Petersham — Couple Families: 29.9% Petersham — Group Household: 11.7% Petersham — One Parent Families: 9.8% Petersham — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lewisham 48.1% renting
Lewisham — Owned Outright: 19.3% Lewisham — Mortgage: 32.6% Lewisham — Renting: 48.1%
Petersham 51.6% renting
Petersham — Owned Outright: 19.7% Petersham — Mortgage: 28.7% Petersham — Renting: 51.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Lewisham Petersham
England 3.7% / 4.5%
Lewisham — England: 3.7% Petersham — England: 4.5%
China 4.1% / 1.3%
Lewisham — China: 4.1% Petersham — China: 1.3%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.0%
Lewisham — New Zealand: 2.2% Petersham — New Zealand: 2.0%
Italy 1.7% / 1.2%
Lewisham — Italy: 1.7% Petersham — Italy: 1.2%
Vietnam 1.2% / 1.0%
Lewisham — Vietnam: 1.2% Petersham — Vietnam: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Lewisham Petersham
Bachelor Degree 28.8% / 26.4%
Lewisham — Bachelor Degree: 28.8% Petersham — Bachelor Degree: 26.4%
Postgraduate Degree 13.4% / 12.2%
Lewisham — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4% Petersham — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.4%
Lewisham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Petersham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 5.7% / 6.7%
Lewisham — Certificate III & IV: 5.7% Petersham — Certificate III & IV: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 3.3%
Lewisham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Petersham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lewisham 58.2% flats / apartments
Lewisham — Flats / Apartments: 58.2% Lewisham — Houses: 28.6% Lewisham — Townhouses: 13.2%
Petersham 51.0% flats / apartments
Petersham — Flats / Apartments: 51.0% Petersham — Houses: 22.5% Petersham — Townhouses: 26.5%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Lewisham Petersham
Median house price $2,355,000 $2,147,500
Median unit price $915,000 $897,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 10 sales
 20 days
from 36 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Lewisham Petersham
1 bed $675K / $760K
Lewisham — 1 bed: $675K (11 sales) Petersham — 1 bed: $760K (59 sales)

11 vs 59 sales

2 bed $1.01M / $1.21M
Lewisham — 2 bed: $1.01M (29 sales) Petersham — 2 bed: $1.21M (50 sales)

29 vs 50 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Lewisham Petersham
2 bed $1.61M / $1.8M
Lewisham — 2 bed: $1.61M (5 sales) Petersham — 2 bed: $1.8M (18 sales)

5 vs 18 sales

3 bed $2.36M / $2.12M
Lewisham — 3 bed: $2.36M (12 sales) Petersham — 3 bed: $2.12M (42 sales)

12 vs 42 sales

4 bed $2.41M / $2.65M
Lewisham — 4 bed: $2.41M (7 sales) Petersham — 4 bed: $2.65M (15 sales)

7 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Lewisham Petersham
Residential 63% 72%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 14%
Commercial 1% 7%
Parks and recreation 2% 6%
Industrial 5% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Lewisham and 99% of Petersham. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Lewisham Petersham
New dwellings approved 849
across Inner West
same for both
Approvals change year on year -25%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Lewisham Petersham
Houses — 3.1%
$1,200/wk on $2M
Units 5.1%
$740/wk on $749K
 4.5%
$688/wk on $799K

Ranking within NSW

Lewisham Petersham
House price Higher than 87% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Schools Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 26% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Petersham scores higher overall (81 vs 74).

Lewisham Petersham
Grade A
same for both
Score 74/100 81/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Lewisham Petersham
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Lewisham Petersham
Inside the suburb 5 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 3.3 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 2.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 3.3%

Schools in Lewisham

  • Christian Brothers' High School Lewisham Independent · Combined above peers
  • Lewisham Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Petersham Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • The John Berne School Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers
  • Eileen O'Connor Catholic College Catholic · Combined · Special school

Schools in Petersham

  • Fort Street High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • NSW School of Languages Government · Secondary
  • Taverners Hill Infants School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Lewisham Petersham
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 35
Parks & reserves 2 4
Childcare 4 5
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Lewisham Petersham
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 9.2 km
+13% vs other
 8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 15 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 91.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 178.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2049
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 12
postcode 2049
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Lewisham Petersham
Worked from Home 67.1% / 62.8%
Lewisham — Worked from Home: 67.1% Petersham — Worked from Home: 62.8%
Car (driver) 20.2% / 21.6%
Lewisham — Car (driver): 20.2% Petersham — Car (driver): 21.6%
Train 7.1% / 6.5%
Lewisham — Train: 7.1% Petersham — Train: 6.5%
Walked Only 2.1% / 3.5%
Lewisham — Walked Only: 2.1% Petersham — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bus 0.9% / 2.2%
Lewisham — Bus: 0.9% Petersham — Bus: 2.2%
Car (passenger) 1.3% / 1.7%
Lewisham — Car (passenger): 1.3% Petersham — Car (passenger): 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.1%).

Setting

Lewisham Petersham
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.1 km 6.0 km

NBN connectivity

Lewisham Petersham
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
1,915 premises
 9%
4,629 premises

Climate

Lewisham Petersham
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Lewisham Petersham
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Lewisham Petersham
Average residential rate $1,342/yr
same for both
Council Inner West
same for both

Federal electorate

Lewisham Petersham
Division Grayndler
same for both
Member Anthony Albanese
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lewisham Petersham
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lewisham

Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Petersham

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lewisham

Lewisham vs Marrickville Lewisham vs Leichhardt Lewisham vs Dulwich Hill Lewisham vs Summer Hill Lewisham vs Haberfield

Other comparisons with Petersham

Petersham vs Marrickville Petersham vs Leichhardt Petersham vs Dulwich Hill Petersham vs Stanmore
Full data on Lewisham Full data on Petersham
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or